Traversing apparatus



July 4; 1944.

' E; FLETCHER ET Al.

TRAVERS ING APPARATUS Filed Jan'. 1, 1945 @WHW Patented July li, :1944`TRAVERSIN G APPARATUS Ed Fletcher, Newark, and Edwin J. Fisher,Millersport, Ohio, assignors to Owens-Corningr Fiberglas Corporation,Toledo, Ohio, a corporation ot Delaware Application January 1, 1943,serial No. 411,220

1o claims. (o1. 242-43) 'I'his invention relates to apparatus for pack,

aging material in strand form at very high winding speeds. 1 Theinvention is especially applicable to fiber forming processes but hasutility in ordinary rewinding.

In certain fiber forming processes such as the forming of glass fibers,the fibers as they are formed are collected in a strand and the strandis wound on a spool or other rotating support. The requirements forwinding such a strand are somewhat diiferent than those presented inwinding yarn. The strand is made up of a' large number of individualfilaments which are not twisted together so that it does not possessintegrity in the degree found in yarn. If the strand is wound about thespool with successive turns in side by side relation, as is usually thecase in the winding of yarns, the laments in adjacent turns may becomeintertangled to such an extent that the identity of the individualstrand is lost. Attempts to unwind a Package wound in such a mannerusually results in several of the filaments 'of the strand breaking awayfrom the strand and remaining on the package to form what are calledrinsers. In many cases this dividing of the strand becomes so seriousthat a large portion ot the package cannot be unwound.

'resulting in a' large amount of waste.l

To guard against this dividing of the strand and the consequentformation of ringers, it is desirable to wind the strand on the Packagein large helixes so that adjacent strands cross each other at largeangles. Thisrsharply reducesv the liability of intertangling of thellaments of adjacent strands and it also permits ready removal ofanyringers that may form.

To obtain the desired type vof winding it has been found necessary totraverse the strand along the package as it is wound at such a rate thatthestrand makes a complete traverse of the package in one direction foreach one to two rotations of'the package. For most purposes anhalt-waywind, that is; a traverse half the length of the `package for eachrevolution thereof, has been found' completely satisfactory inpermitting ready and complete unwlnding of the strand from the package.v

Another factor in obtaining a readily unwound package is the degree oftension '-on the .strand during the winding.` This is of specialsignificance in the winding of newly formed glass filaments because ofthe inherent tendency of glass surfaces to seize and abrade each otherwhen brought into contact. Undue tension during the winding also tendsto squeeze out oi' the package any lubricant or coating material appliedto the strand to prevent seizing and abrading of adjacent fibers, withthe result that the strand is wound so tightly that the package takes onthe semblance of a solid mass of glass. Such a package is, of course,almost impossible to efciently unwind.

Various traversing mechanisms have been suggested for use in the processof forming glass fiber strands. Most of these have had more or lessserious limitations. One of the most suc-v cessful prior traversingmechanisms is that shown lin the Thomas and Fletcher Patent No.2,325,640, granted Aug. 3, 1943, on application Serial No. 161,476 filedAugust 28,- 1937. This is a rotary traverse adaptable to very high speedoperation in which the strand is drawn to the package at such an anglerelative to the axis of the package that it tends to traverse along thepackage in one direction under the influence of its tendency to meet thepackage at a right angle. Traverse of the strand in the oppositedirection is effected by engaging the strand periodically with aprojection on a rotating disk.

moving the strand along the packase'and releasing it at the end thereof.whereupon it traverses along the package in the return direction due toits angular relation to the package.

This type of vmechanism is not completely satisfactory if it isattempted to greatly increase the speed ol' fiber formation byincreasing the rate of winding of the strand. For example. at windingspeeds in the range of 12,000 to 20,000 revolutions per minute it isnecessary to move the strand in @ne direction along the full length ofthe package at a rate in the range of 6,000 to 10,000 times per `minuteif av haliway vwind is to be obtained. VTo obtain these speeds oftraverse the angularrelation between the strand and the package must bemade much more acute to obtain such high speed movement of the strandalong the package counter to the movement imparted to the strand by thetraversing disk. However this more acute angular relation greatlyincreases the tension on the strand during the winding so that theincrease in the tightness of the package offsets to large' extent anyadvantages obtained by increasing the speed of winding. Also, at thetime the strand is engaged by a projection on the disk it is inclined inone direction to the package but as the projection proceeds to move thestrand along the package the inclination of thestrand. between theprojection and the package must be in the opposite direction. Thischange-in inclination results in a lag before actual reversal oftraverse movement along the package takes place so that the ends of thepackage build up to greater thickness than the main body of the package.This further increases the diillculty of unwinding.

The present invention overcomes the diiiiculties mentioned by positivelymoving the strand in opposite directions lengthwise of the spool orother rotatable member with mechanism which eiects reversal of movementwith the minimum lag. 'I'his arrangement not only enables obtaininghigher traversing speeds but, in addition, minimizes the tendency forthe strand to build up at the extremities of the package and therebyfacilitates unwinding the strand from the package.

Another important feature of this invention is to provide high speedtraversing mechanism constructed in a manner to apply a substantiallystraight vertical pull on the strand during the Winding operation. Thisfeature is advantageous because it relieves the strand of a substantialamount of tension during the winding operation and permits obtaining arelatively loose package. Thus, a greater amount of material may beapplied to the spool without disturbing the eiliciency of the unwindingcharacteristics of the package.

Still another object of this invention is to increase the rate of travelof the strand lengthwise of the spool with traversing mechanism which isoperated at a relatively slow speed. In accordance with this inventionthe above is accomplished by providing a rotatable traversing element atone side of the strand having means for successively imparting aplurality of driving thrusts on the strand during one complete rotationof the traversing element to produce a corresponding nurnber of completetraversing movements of the strand in one direction lengthwise of thespool, and to provide a complementary traversing element supported atthe opposite side of the strand for. rotation in a direction oppositethe direction of rotation of the nrst element to impart driving impulsesto the strand opposed to the driving impulses produced by the firstelement. Also. inaccordance with this invention the two elements arerotated in out of phase relation so that the driving impulses impartedto the strand by one element alternate with the opposed driving impulsesimparted to the strand by the other element to successively move thestrand in opposite direction lengthwise of the spool.

It is another object of the present invention to provide for readyrelease of the strand from the traversing mechanism at the ends of thetraversing movement in both directions and without the use of anyadditional strand-contacting .element to thereby limit the friction onthe strand as it moves at high speed toward the package.

. The manner in which the above arrigement enables increasing the rateof packaging or winding a strand of material without correspondinglyincreasing the speed of operation of the travers- `ing equipment will bemore clearly understood by examining a hypothetical case. Assuming, forexample, that each traversing element imparts-three complete traversingmovements to the strand during one complete rotation of the elements andthat the spool makes two complete revolutions during each traversingmovement of the strand, it follows that the speed of rotation of thetraversing elements need be only one-sixth of the speed of rotation ofthe spool to build a half-way wind. Thus. the strand may be wound on thespool at a rate considerably higher than the-speed of rotation of thetraversing mechanism and this not only makes it practical to package thematerial at appreciably higher speeds but also reduces the wear of thetraversing mechanism to a minimum.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, will be made more `apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing, wherein: I

Figure 1 is a front elevational view, partly diagrammatic and partly insection, of traversing equipment constructed in accordance with thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the winding mechanism shown inFigure 1; and

Figure' 3 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken on the lineG- of Figure 2.

Briefly. a suitable strand of material is packaged Iby winding the sameon a rotatable member or spool which is rotated at a high speed in orderto package the maximum amount of material in the minimum length of time.The strand of material is, of course, successively moved inopposltedirections lengthwise bf the spool during rotation and at a rate to movethe strand halt the length of the package during each complete revolution of the spool to build a half-wound package although the speed oftraverse may be varied as desired.

In accordance with this invention the required rate of traversing isobtained with traversin! mechanism which operates at only 'a fraction ofthe speed of rotation of the package. In general, this is accomplishedby supporting a pair-'of traversing elements on opposite sides of thestrand for rotation in opposite directions and by providing means oneach element for imparting a plurality of complete traversing movementsto the strand during one complete rotation of the elements. 'I'heelements are rotated in out of phase relation so that the means on oneelement alternates with the means on the other element to successivelymove the strand in opposite directions lengthwise ofthe spool. Thus, ifthe spool is rotated at 12,000 revolutions per minute'and if threecomplete traversing movements are imparted to the strand foreachrotation of the traversing elements, the latter need be rotated aty only2,000 revolutions per minute instead ofthe considerably higher speed of6,000 revolutions or reciprocations per minute heretofore required withmost traversing equipment.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, the reference character .I0indicates a strand of material to be packaged and the referencecharacter l I indicates a spool about which the strand is to be wound.The spool Il is operatively connected to a spindle I2 in the usualmanner and the spindle is rotated by suitable mechanism. not shown.

Two spiders I3 and Il are respectively sup-r ported above the spool Ilat opposite sides of the strand l0 for rotation about axes generallyperpendicular to the axis of rotation of the spool and located in acommon plane acutely angularly related to the plane of the strand thatis parallel to the spool axis. As shown in Figure 3. the spiders arerespectively secured to shafts l5 and I6 supported for rotation insuitable bearings in a housing i6'. The shafts I5 and, I6 are shown asoperatively connected by gearing I8 in such a manner that the spidersare not only rotated at the same speed but are also rotated in oppositedirections. A motor I1 fixed to the housing carries a pinion I1 onv itsshaft, which meshes wi h one oi the gears of the gearing yil to drivethe spiders. l

Upon reference to Figure l of the drawing, it will be noted that eachspider comprises a plurality oi' radially outwardlyextending arms I2spaced equal distances vfrom each other circumferentially of the spider.

'Ihe spider I3 has strand-engaging bins 2li respectively carried by thearms Il thereof at the radially outer ends and the spider I4 is providedwith similar pins 2 I. 'Ihe pins associated with the spiders extend inthe general direction of the axes of rotation of the respective spidersand are inclined slightly in a direction opposite the direction ofrotation of the respective spiders to insure ease of movement of f thestrand along the pins and for quickly releasing the strand at the endsof the traversing movements in either direction.

The spiders, in addition to being rotated in opposite directions at thesame speed, are also rotated in such out of phase relationship that thearms I9 on one spider respectively extend into the spaces providedbetween adjacent armsl I5 of the other spider during rotation of thespiders. Also the spiders are so positioned with respect to the spool II that the pins on the respective spiders alternate with each other tosuccessively move the strand I0 in opposite directions lengthwise of thespool II to form a package 22 on the periphery of the spool.

Referring to Figure 2 it will be noted that the spiders are rotatablysupported about axes located in a common plane inclined atan includedangle less than a right angle Vto the strand so that the pins on theends of the spider arms I9 move into the plane of thestrand parallel tothe spool axis at the lower portion of their path of travel and out ofthe said plane of thestrand at the upper portion of their path oftravel. The points at which the pins move into and out of the plane ofthe strand are represented by the intersection between the plane denedby the ends of the pins and the plane of the strand. To obtain the mostemcient operation with as little lag as possible between the "traversingmovements in opposite directions, it is desirable to cause the pin thatis traversing the strand to move out of the plane of the strand at theinstant that the pin that is to return the strand comes into contactwith the strand. This relation of the traversing spiders is representedby dotted lines in Figure l.

Adjustment of the apparatus to obtain perfect cooperation between thetwo spiders and the strand is made by moving the spiders toward and froma vertical plane passing through the axis of the package. Suchadjustment varies the point at which the strand-engaging pin moves outof the piane of the strand. However such adjustment need not necessarilyvary the position of the end of the package because the end oftraversing movement is usually deilned by the point at which the pinthat is to reversely traverse the strand comes into contact with thestrand.

As previouslymentioned, it is preferable to have the strand released byone pin at the instant the pin that is to return the strand comes intocontact with the strand, but this is principally to hold to a minimumthe friction on the strand and the two pins may be in contact with thestrand for a perceptible part of the traversing operation should this befound desirable. Adjustment of the spindle toward and from the verticalplane passing through the axis of the package may be accomplished bymoving the standard 2i upon which the housing I6' is supported towardand from the spool. Such movement is provided for by securing thestandard to a suitable platform by ymeans of bolts 26 passing throughelongated slots 2"'V in the base of the standard.

In detail, the arrangement is such that as one of the pins 2l on thespider I 4 releases the strand I0 after advancing the latterthroughoutone complete traversing movement in the direction indicated by the arrowA in Figure l. the advancing pin 2li on the spider I2 engages the strandI0 and moves the latter in the opposite direction along the spool II. Bythe time the strand I0 is released by the spider I3. the

next succeeding pin 2I onthe spider Il engages the strand and againmoves the latter in the direction A. Thus, it will be seen that thetraversing movement of the strand vi0 is reversed at both ends of thepackage without an appreciable lag. This is advantageous because itprevents building-up of the strand at the ends of the package. Moreover,the speed of rotation of the spiders need be only a fraction of thespeed of rotation of the spool Il because the spiders effect a pluralityof traversing movements of the strand in opposite directions for eachrevolutionv of the spiders. In the present instance, each spider isprovided with three arms and, accordingly, three complete traversingmovements of the strand in opposite directions lengthwise oi the spoolIl is eifected during each complete revolution of the spiders. However,it should be understood that the number of complete traversing movementsof the strand obtained for each rotation of the spiders may be readilychanged by merely altering the number of arms on the spiders. We preferemploying three arms ybecause anyr number less than threel reduces theeillciency of the device and any number greater than three complicatesthe timing of the equipment to produce the proper length Yof package.

Although it will be apparent as this description proceeds that thepackaging apparatus may be successfully employed in packaging strands ofpractically any material, nevertheless, for the purpose of illustratingthis invention the packaging equipment is shown in combination withapparatus for manufacturing thermoplastic ilbers or strands such, forexample, as glass bers or strands. I

With the above in view reference is again made to Figure l wherein thereference character 22' Thomas Patent No. 2,234,986 dated March 18,

i941. However, the above apparatus is merely shown herein for thepurpose of illustrating the presentk invention and it is to beunderstood that various other specic constructions of melters andbushings may be successfully used.

Regardless of the speciilc construction of the melter and bushing used,the arrangement is such as to provide for the iiow oi'v molten glass inthe form of streams from a suitable source or body of glass. In thepresent instance, the streams of molten glass are attenuated to formfibers and the iibers are collected by a pad 25 to form a group orstrand of bers. The streams are attenuated by the revoluble spool Ilupon which the strand is wound, although other attenuating means may beemployed if desired without departing from the spirit and scope of vthisinvention. .The traversing spiders are located between the pad '25 andspool H. and cooperate with each other in the manner previouslydescribedto successively move the strand in opposite directions lengthwise of thespool Il to form the package 22.

Various modifications may be resorted to within the spirit and scopeoithe appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for packaging material in strand form comprising arotatable spool about which a strand of material is adapted to be wound.a member supported at one side of the strand for movement in a circularpath about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotationof the spool and having circumferentially spaced strand-engagingportions successively engageable with the strand, a second membersupported at the opposite side of the strand for movement in a directionopposite the direction of movement of the iirst member and in a planecommon therewith about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of therst member, and a plurality of crcumferentially spaced strand-engagingportions on the second member alternating with the strand-engagingportions on the tlrst member to successively move the strand in oppositedirections lengthwise of the spool.

2. Apparatus for packaging material in strand form comprising arotatable member about which a strand of material is adapted to bewound, a pair of spiders supported for rotation about axes respectivelyat opposite sides of the strand and extending substantiallyperpendicular to the axis oi the rotatable member and each spider havinga plurality of radially extending arms, astrandengaging elementprojecting from the radially outer end portion of each arm, and meansfor rotating the spiders in opposite directions in such phaserelationship that the arms on one spider successively extend intothespace between adjacent arms on the other spider and thestrandengaging elements on the respective spiders alternately engage thestrand at opposite sides to successively move the latter in oppositedirections substantially lengthwise of the rotatable member.

3. Apparatus for packaging material in strand form comprising arotatable member about which a strand .of material is adapted to bewound, a spider supported at one side of the strand for rotation aboutan axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the rotatable memberand having-a plurality of radially extending arms, a second spidersupported at the opposite side of the strand for rotation about an axissubstantially parallel to the axis of the iirst spider and having aplurality of arms corresponding in number to the number of arms on therst spider, means for rotating the spiders in opposite directions insuch phase relationship that the arms on one spider successively enterthe space between adjacent arms on the other spider, and strand-engagingportions respectively carried by the arms of the second spider andalternating with strand-engaging portions on the arms of the ilrstspider to successively move the strand in opposite directions lengthwiseof the rotatable member.

4. Apparatus for packaging strands comprising a rotatable member aboutwhich a strand of material is adapted to be wound and a source ofmaterial in strand form, a pair otv rotatable traversing elementsrespectively located at oppositesides of the path of the'strand as it isdrawn from the source to the rotatable member, a plurality ofstrand-engaging projections extending laterally from each element inspaced relation to' each other circumterentiallyoi the latter, meanssupporting the elements -ior movement in circular paths about axesextendingA perpendicular to the axis of the rotatable member andinclined to the strand at such an angle that the circular paths of saidelements are located in a plane'acutely angularly related tothe strandto enable the projections on each element to successively engage thestrand, and means for rotating the elements in opposite directions insuch phase relationship that the projections on'one element alternatewith the projections on the other element to successively movethevstrand'in opposite directions lengthwise of the rotatable member.

5. Apparatus for packaging material in strand form comprising arotatable member about which a strand of material is adapted to bewound, a pair of spiders respectively located at opposite sides of thestrand and each spider having a plurality of radially outwardlyextending arms, a strand-engaging projection on the radially outer endportion of each arm, means supporting the spiders for rotation aboutaxes extending substantially perpendicular to the axis oi rotation ofthe rotatable member and inclined at such an angle to enable theprojections on each spider to successively engage the strand, and meansfor rotating the spiders in opposite directions in such phaserelationship that the arms on one spider extend between adjacent arms onthe other spider and the projections on the arms of one spider alternatewith the projections on the arms of the other spider to successivelymove the strand in opposite directions lengthwise oi the rotatablemember.

6. Winding apparatus comprising a spool about which a strand of materialis adapted to be wound and a source from which the strand is drawn bythe spool, a pair of rotatable traversing spiders located respectivelyat opposite sides of the path of the strand on its way from the sourceto the spool, each of said spiders including a plurality o!strand-engaging elements extending transversely of the path of thestrand and movable in a circular path that is acutely angularly inclinedto the plane of the strand parallel to the spool axis, whereby theelements move in the plane of the strand throughout the portion of theirtravel adjacent the spool and move outside of said plane throughout theremainder of the travel, said circular paths overlapping a distance atleast as great as the length of the traverse, and means for rotatingeach of said pair of spiders respectively in opposite directions tocause the strand-engaging elements of one of said traversing spiderstoengage the strand alternately with said elements of the other ofsaidspiders and thereby traverse the strand back and forthalong saidpackage.

'1. Winding apparatus comprising a spool about which a strand ofmaterial is adapted to be wound and a source from which the strand isdrawn by the spool, a pair of traversing means located respectively atopposite sides of the path qt the said elements being inclined awayfrom. the direction of movement thereof, the axes oi' rota tion of saidtraversing means being spaced apart a distance less. than the diameterof said circular paths of movement of said elements, and means forrotating each of said pair of traversing means respectively in oppositedirections to cause the strand-engaging elements of one oi' saidtraversing means to engsethe strand alternately with said elements ofthe other of said traversing means and thereby traverse the strand backand forth along said package.

8. Winding apparatus comprising a spool about which a strand of materialisy adapted to be wound and a source from which the strand is drawn bythe spool, a pair of traversing means located respectively at oppositesides of the path of the strand on its way from the source to the spool,each of said traversing means including three radially disposed armsprovided with strand-engaging elements extending transversely of thepath of the strand and movable in a circular path that is acutelyangularly inclined to the plane of the strand parallel to the spoolaxis, whereby the elements move in the plane of the strand throughoutytheir portion of the travel adjacent the spool and move outside of saidplane throughout the remainder of the travel, and means for rotatingeach of said pair of traversing means respectively in oppositedirections to cause the said strand-engaging elements of one of saidtraversing means to engage the strand alternately with said elements ofthe other of said traversing means and thereby traverse the strand backand forth along said package.

9. Winding apparatus comprising a spool about which a strand of materialis adapted to be wound and a source from which the strand is drawn bythe spool, a pair of rotatable shafts located respectively at oppositesides of the strand, each of said shafts being provided with a pluralityof substantially radially extending arms equally spaced about saidshaft, strand-engaging pins onthe outer ends of said arms extending inthe general direction of the shafts, whereby the' pins of each shaft aremoved in a circular path upon rotation of the shaft, the axes ofrotaless than the diameter of said circular paths but greater than theradius thereof to cause the cir- .cular paths to overlap, and means forrotating saidshafts at the same speed in opposite directions. i

l0. Winding apparatus comprising a spool about which a strand ofmaterial is adapted to be wound and a source from which the strand isdrawn by the spool, a pair oi' rotatable shafts located respectively atopposite sides of the strand, each of said shafts being provided with aplurality of substantially radially extending arms equally spacedaboutsaid shaft, strand-engaging pins on the outer ends of said armsextending in the general direction of the shafts, whereby the pins ofeach shaft are moved in a circular path upon rotation of the shaft, theaxesv of rotation of said shafts being spaced apart a distance less thanthe diameter of said circular paths but greater than the radius thereofto cause the circular paths to overlap, an operative connection betweensaid shafts to cause them to rotate with the arms of one shaftintersecting the spaces between adjacent arms on the other shaft, and

40 means for rotating said shafts at the same speed in oppositedirections.

ED FLETCHER. EDWIN J. FISHER.

tion of said shafts being spaced apart a distance v

